Back in the saddle again

It's the start of yet another school year and I'm so excited! I'm entering the 2nd year of my Ph.D. and I feel good about my new role. This year, I get to be a TA; I will be in charge of two discussion sections of Western Civ. Woo! I was hoping to get that class because some of the other options were either bleak, boring or embarassing (i.e. Survey of U.S. History, History of Medicine, History of Business and Enterprise, History of Pornography and Prostitution). Granted, I think I could handle the Porn and Prostitution class but, I think I'd be blushing consistently for about the first month. Maybe next year ;)

This year brings about a few more changes, mainly in the personnel area. One member of my cohort is currently spending a year abroad in Germany teaching and doing research. We're all very happy for him but, I think we all miss him pretty terribly. There are undeniably certain people in life that leave a hole in the universe when they're not around; this guy is one of those. Another member of my cohort decided not to return for his second year. This was a shock to all of us. He was very much the silent type so, no one knew anything was wrong. All efforts at communication with him have been unsuccessful so, if you're reading K, we all wish you the best and would like to hear how you're doing!

It is amazing to me that, as a 2nd year, some of the new grads have been asking for my opinion and advice. Ha! Like I know anything. Truthfully, I only feel slightly less lost than I did last year (at least I can find most buildings on campus and locate food, when necessary). I'm still not anywhere near the kind of researcher/writer I want to be; my only consolation is that I think I have a better idea of what I should be. In any case, the new batch of newbies seem very friendly, intelligent and down-to-earth. The last thing we need in the department is a flood of people on an ego trip. Academia in general has enough of that.

TA orientation was this week and for the next two weekends we will be having departmental social events. This is all part of the"welcome-back-from-summer-death" adjustment period. "Summer death" being defined as the total and complete lapse in social contact or interaction that occurs during the summer months. No one knows if you are dead or alive, no one asks and you don't give any signs of life until the week before classes start. It's a time of quiet reflection, procrastination, beautifying, weight loss and general self-transformation. Extreme Makeover-- Academic Edition. We are never as tan, thin, rested, happy or energetic as in those first few weeks. Personally, I'm going to try to enjoy it while it lasts...this year's gonna be rough...

Ehhh....what's up Doc?

Well, in case anyone has been wondering, it's been a very busy and interesting month for me. I got back from Brazil and immediately began the medical ball rolling. I had a rather enormous lump on the left side of my neck (as you can see) that had started causing me pain and a lot of discomfort. By the time I got state-side, the left side of my face was puffy and swollen; my jawline was almost indistinguishable from my neck due to the inflammation. I quickly got an appointment with my family physician in Hagerstown, Md and she referred me to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist named Dr. A. Chris Manilla. He was awful. When I was trying to explain what the specialist in Brazil told me, he interrupted and rudely interjected, "Well, I'm a specialist too, ya know." Yeah, buddy, I know. And real professional too. Then, I asked him about the timeline for my surgery. He said, "If you think you're gonna be scheduled for surgery in the next week or so, you're crazy. We're looking at at least a month." He then asked me what I do. When I told him I was a Ph.D. student at a rather prestigious Southeastern university he said, "Why would you do this here, then? They have one of the best programs in the country for this. You'd be crazy to do it here. It's just me and it's just Hagerstown." Not the best vote of confidence for your skills or your facilities, my friend. I'm sure the rest of the medical staff where he works would be interested to know his thoughts on the hospital there. In any case, I did follow his advice and had the surgery done at my home university. They scheduled me immediately for surgery (this past Monday). I was treated wonderfully by all the doctors, nurses and staff here. VUMC is a fantastic medical facility. I would recommend them to anyone for anything. (Recently voted "Best of the Best" by Newsweek!). Dr. Wendell Yarbrough was the one to actually do my surgery and he was wonderful! Very patient, answered all my questions, was extremely friendly and did an excellent job; I have no complaints whatsoever.

Basically, I had a cyst removed from my neck which was about the size of a medium egg. It was a congenital, branchial cleft cyst. This means that, as an embryo, I developed with the end of a branchial tube in my neck left open (cleft). This allows bacteria to enter and infect the area, which forms the cyst (a collection of fluid), and needs to be removed. Only about 2-3% of the population has this occur and recurrence is rare (thank goodness). The surgery doesn't take very long, about 2 hours, but the area around the neck is very sensitive and delicate (lots of arteries, nerves, etc). Luckily, my situation wasn't terribly complicated and so my recovery has been rather easy. Right now, I'm hooked up to a drainage tube (as seen below). I go in tomorrow to have it removed. After that, I will have a small scar under my jawline which should fade with time and proper care. All in all, things were very easy and I'm happy to have it all over with. I'm still hopped up on pain-killers and a virtual cocktail of other medications but, I'm feeling okay. It's a bit like getting kicked in the neck....really hard. My parents came down to care for me and my boyfriend is here too so, that helps a lot. I look forward to the start of classes and getting back to normal life again.....whew....